The DEB team experienced a close call in their significant victory.
In their quest for the quarter-finals of the World Championship, the German men's ice hockey team emerged victorious against Poland. This marked their fourth win in six games. The team encountered a slightly intense moment in the final phase of the game.
Despite a shaky performance, Germany's progression to the quarter-finals of the World Championship is practically assured. The runners-up beat newly-promoted Poland 4:2 (0:0, 2:0, 2:2) in Ostrava, Czech Republic - a game that presented some challenges. Alexander Ehl (26th minute), JJ Peterka (36th/57th) who scored a brace and Yasin Ehliz (45th) were the scorers for Harold Kreis' team. Up next, the German Ice Hockey Federation will face France on Tuesday at 12:20 pm (ProSieben, MagentaSport and live ticker on ntv.de).
The Kreis team couldn't maintain the momentum from their two clear victories against Latvia (8:1) and Kazakhstan (8:2). Poland was more robust in defense and set the tone offensively. Goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger, standing in for NHL keeper Philipp Grubauer, had to intervene a few times in the opening minutes.
"We're not giving them anything," announced Germany's defenseman Maksymilian Szuber. Szuber, like Wojciech Stachowiak, is a defender with Polish origin. However, the team repeatedly lost control, as passing accuracy and concentration were missing at times. The pucks that reached their teammates repeatedly ended up in possession of the opponents.
Ehliz goal still not the game's conclusive moment
The DEB team faced some challenges with the arena conditions on the 9th day of the competition. "The temperatures are abnormal," remarked NHL player Nico Sturm on ProSieben post-first period, adding, "the ice is bad." The impressive play against the world's 22nd ranked team resulted in the first goal, with the puck moving through Parker Tuomie and Maxi Kastner to Ehl, who scored with a powerful shot (26th). This was Ehl's first goal in the Czech Republic's title fights.
Even though the Kreis team struggled, they managed to regain control of the game. Polish goalkeeper David Zabolotny made some phenomenal saves. After an opponent threw a stick right before Yasin Ehliz shot on goal, the DEB team was given a penalty. Peterka scored from the spot, making it 2-0. This was Peterka's fourth goal in the tournament and his first with the Buffalo Sabres.
The Poles became more and more exhausted as the game progressed, and the German squad had the match under full control. However, in the final minutes, Polish players found a new boost and managed to close the gap. Patryk Wajda reduced the gap to 1-3 from a close range (54th) and, later on, Silvio Komorski leveled the score (56th). Peterka then sealed the match with his second goal of the game.
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In the World Championships, the German ice hockey team secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 4:2 victory over Poland, setting up a clash against France in the next round. The World Championships Ice Hockey Quarter-finals feature Germany and France, following Germany's triumph against Poland.
Source: www.ntv.de
